Author: Caelin Bragg

Wichita State’s commitment to fostering innovation is transforming high-potential student research into real-world impact. A compelling example is Shocker Composites, a startup founded by Vamsidhar (Vamsi) Patlolla, a former Ph.D. student at Wichita State. The company is pioneering recycling of composites and manufacturing parts with 100% sustainable materials that are lasting longer in the field thanks to innovation born in the lab and powered by university support.

Suspenders4Hope, a program developed at Wichita State University, is highlighting different departments and individuals on campus who are advocates for mental health in hopes that their stories will inspire others to continue supporting one another in the community.

The Shocker Store is being recognized as a mental health advocate for its support of the Suspenders4Hope program by offering the Suspenders4Hope T-shirts for sale, with proceeds directly benefiting HOPE Services, and by serving as a hub for resources for Shockers on campus.

Wichita State University will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared it a state holiday in 2023.

Eligible employees will receive the day as a paid holiday, and the time will be automatically recorded on eligible employees’ timesheets. Holiday hours will be added according to each employee’s standard hours per day, and no action is required from employees who report leave via leave reports.

Wichita State University will be closed Thursday, June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, and Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly declared it a state holiday in 2023.

Last month’s edition of President Rick Muma’s Forward Together newsletter focused on the past year of Wichita State, including:

• Our spring 2025 class of Shocker graduates
• President’s Distinguished Service Awards and University Faculty Awards
• The recent groundbreaking of the new Internet Exchange Point
• A look back at the entire academic year, through photos

The NCAA announced that the 2026 and 2027 Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament (WBIT) semifinals and finals will be at Charles Koch Arena on the Wichita State campus. This will be the first year that Wichita will host the final WBIT games. Wichita has experience hosting women’s basketball tournament games, most recently when it hosted a March Madness regional in 2022.

WBIT semifinals and finals will be broadcast on ESPN platforms. Below are the dates for the semifinals and finals in Wichita:

• 2026: March 30 (semifinals), April 1 (final).
• 2027: March 29 (semifinals), March 31 (final).

The Wichita State women’s tennis team was mentioned multiple times June 4 when the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) announced the Mid-Major and Regional Rankings for the 2025 season.

The Shockers were ranked No. 15 in the ITA Mid-Major Poll, their highest ranking in the poll since its establishment in 2021, surpassing their previous No. 25 ranking from the 2023 season. In the Central Region, the Shockers were ranked seventh as a team. Their highest Central Region ranking since 2018, when they were fourth.

Additionally, sophomore standout Xin Tong Wang became the first Shocker since 2018 to be ranked in the Central Region top 20 in singles, appearing at No. 11.

After a year marked by significant improvement, the Wichita State men’s tennis team was ranked No. 7 in the Central Region by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) in their end-of-year regional rankings June 4.

Additionally, Kristof Minarik was ranked No. 20 in the Central Region in singles, marking the first ranking since 2023, when Minarik was also ranked No. 20. 

More than 2,400 Shockers were eligible for graduation in spring 2025. As they graduate from Wichita State University, they will share the story of Shocker Nation through their work.

Learn more about some of the graduates and their time at Wichita State and what they are looking forward to in their futures.

Thank you to those who volunteered to help with the high school state baseball, softball and track events that took place on campus recently. There were over 35,000 students, coaches and spectators in attendance, a record number. Volunteers gave over 6,000 people golf cart rides and helped staff Fan Alley, providing additional food, activities and other goodies to attendees.

Thank you again to all the volunteers for helping welcome these visitors to campus and providing a positive experience. Mark your calendars for next year’s events, May 29-30, 2026.